Massage Therapist Gifts: 10 Ideas That Give Back the Care They Give All Day

The best massage therapist gifts are things they would never buy for themselves: a way to finally receive a massage at home, a hand care kit, a massage oil just for them, a soft robe for after a long day and a heartfelt note. Personal gifts that help them rest usually beat more work supplies. Below are 10 ideas, plus a quick way to choose by who you are to them.

Picture the end of their day. One appointment after another, hands warm and steady since morning, every bit of attention spent on someone else. They come home, sit on the edge of the bed and roll their own shoulders for a second, because nobody does it for them. The person who takes care of everyone is usually the last one taken care of. This year, you can change that.

What massage therapists actually want

Most gift lists for massage therapists are full of work supplies: more lotion, another bolster, a mug with a pun on it. Useful, maybe, but it is still work. They spend the day on their feet, using their hands and giving their full attention to someone else. The gifts that land best do one of three things:

• Take care of their hands. The tools of their trade never get a day off.
• Help them switch off. Comfort, warmth and quiet after a long day.
• Put them on the receiving end. A massage they did not have to book, drive to or give.

The third one is the rarest, and the one they remember.

10 massage therapist gifts they will actually use

1. A massage at home, for once. Give them what they give everyone else. At home, the catch is the position: face down on a pillow, the head turns to one side and the neck stays twisted the whole time. A massage headrest for the bed solves that. The Vitabyo Bed Cradle slides under the mattress, lets them rest their face straight down in an open-center memory foam cushion, supports their arms on an armrest and sets up in under a minute without tools. Then you do the massaging.
2. A hand care kit. Their hands work all day. A rich, unscented hand cream and cotton gloves to wear overnight make a small gift they will use every evening.
3. A massage oil just for them. Not another big bottle for work, but one they would never splurge on for themselves. Our guide to choosing a massage oil explains what to look for.
4. A soft robe and warm slippers. After a day on their feet, changing into something soft is the fastest way to leave work at work.
5. A night off that you plan. Cook dinner, handle the chores and run them a warm bath. An evening where nobody needs anything from them is a gift on its own.
6. A session with a colleague they admire. It is the appointment they keep meaning to book and never do, so making the booking is the gift.
7. Linens for their massage room. Soft table sheets, face cradle covers and plush towels get used every day. A great pick from a colleague or for a massage student.
8. A small speaker and a playlist you made. Music shapes every session, and a playlist you chose makes it personal.
9. A personalized touch. An engraved set of oil bottles or a name plaque for their door shows you pay attention to the work they love.
10. A handwritten card, if you are a client. Two or three honest lines about what their work means to you, plus a small treat they can use up, like good tea. This is the kind of gift people keep.

The right gift for who you are to them

The best gift depends on how close you are to them.

If you are their partner and can only pick one, pick the one that puts them on the receiving end. It is the one gift their job never gives them.

Their turn: a 15-minute massage you can give at home

Giving a massage to someone who does it for a living sounds intimidating. It is not. Nobody is grading you. What they will notice is that, for once, someone is taking care of them.

1. Set up the bed (1 minute). Slide the cradle frame under the mattress at the side or foot of the bed, then adjust the height and tilt so their face rests straight. Cover the mattress with a large towel.
2. Warm the room and your hands (1 minute). Dim the lights, put on quiet music and rub your hands together until they are warm.
3. Long glides on the back (3 minutes). With a little oil, glide slowly from the lower back up to the shoulders and back down, with light to medium pressure.
4. Shoulders and upper back (4 minutes). Knead the top of the shoulders gently, then make small thumb circles beside the shoulder blades, never on the spine. Our shoulder massage routine shows each move.
5. Their hands (4 minutes). The hands that worked all day deserve the most attention. With their arms resting by their sides, make slow thumb circles in each palm, then glide along each finger.
6. Closing strokes (2 minutes). Return to the long glides, slower and lighter each time, then rest your hands still for a few breaths.

4 gifts to skip

• Another work gadget. They already chose the tools of their trade. A gift that means more work feels like more work.
• Strongly scented products. Scent is personal. When in doubt, go unscented.
• Jokey massage gifts. A funny mug is fine once. A gift that shows you understand their day is better.
• A massage in a bad position. Do not ask them to lie with the head twisted on a pillow. They know better than anyone how much the position matters, which is the whole idea behind the 30-second fix for home massages.

Massage Headrest for Bed with Armrest – Vitabyo Bed Cradlefrom $128.00 · free US shipping · 30-day returnsShop now →

Shopping for someone who simply loves getting massages? Our massage gift ideas guide covers that. And if the therapist in your life is also your wife or husband, see gifts for a wife who has everything and gifts for a husband who has everything.

Frequently asked questions

Massage at home is for relaxation. Skip any area with a fresh injury, bruise, rash or broken skin. If the person is pregnant, has a medical condition or recently had surgery, check with a healthcare provider first. The Vitabyo Bed Cradle is a comfort accessory, not a medical device.